There is an exciting dimension to meditation, which is often ignored or even dismissed. This is the exploration of altered states of consciousness, and mystic and psychic experiences.
There are several reasons for this omission. The first is a misunderstanding of the Buddhist idea of emptiness. Western interpretations have dumbed down sunyata (Sanskrit), a complex concept that attempts to describe meditators’ calm experience of infinite unknowing. This has been inaccurately interpreted to mean a void in which there is nothing but silence and emptiness. In fact, the void of sunyata is an infinite space that harmoniously includes and contains everything.
(Representation of the observable universe on a logarithmic scale by Unmismoobjetivo – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)
A second reason for ignoring the spirituality and metaphysics of meditation has been a utilitarian move to present meditation as a safe secular practice that soothes and supports wellbeing. The fear in education and medicine is that the metaphysical aspects of meditation will sabotage its mainstream acceptance.
A third related reason is a cultural snobbery around spiritual and psychic experiences, which are often judged as naive or, worse, a possible symptom of mental illness. So, many meditators keep quiet about their spiritual experiences, not wanting to be the targets of unpleasant comment.
This distrust of meditation’s metaphysics is often supported by a famous story about an experienced meditation teacher and an enthusiastic student.
Enthusiastic student: My meditation was amazing! I saw angels and fantastic colours! I heard a voice and felt the vibration of liberated beings!
Teacher: Be quiet. All that will pass.
(Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand – 018 Devas in Heaven, CC BY 2.0)
This fable is often used to assert that all psychic phenomena in meditation are irrelevant figments of the imagination and distractions.
But that is not the real lesson of the story.
The actual teaching is more important: whatever the experience, meditators need to maintain a state of watchful, calm and compassionate equanimity.
Inside this composed mood, meditators can then observe all phenomena with a kind but detached curiosity, and assess the usefulness and value of whatever has arisen. Importantly they can also discern whether the phenomena are creations of their own psyches or are external realities; and if the phenomena are indeed creations of their own psyches, they can reflect on why they have arisen.
The story about the teacher and student does not tell students to dismiss all phenomena. It tells them to observe with equanimity whatever arises.
We can immediately see here the psychological value of mature meditation. Mindful curiosity allows meditators to calmly engage with their experiences. The sensations and memories, for example, of traumatic events can be witnessed as they emerge as thoughts, feelings and subtle sensations. Tranquil breath and self-care then enable a healing process of acceptance and integration.
(Francesco Botticini – The Assumption of the Virgin)
Beyond this internal psychological dimension, there are also the external spaces accessed in altered states of consciousness. This is where meditation starts to be a whole lot of fun. But I need to be crystal clear. At the risk of repetition, exploration of these psychic dimensions has to be practised with compassionate equanimity. Perceptions and experiences are always balanced with reflective and sceptical detachment. Otherwise the result can be dissociation into a psychic Disneyland.
That said, the cosmos and its subtle dimensions are full of interesting phenomena, beings and experiences. Our psyches are totally free to explore the cosmic environment. This is the greater ecosystem. Big bang. Time. Consciousness. Gaia. Christ. The Divine Feminine. These are just hints at what the meditative psyche may explore. Exploration expands consciousness and connection.
Remember that Buddhist paintings of meditation and its inner realms are not empty but filled with strange beings.
Humans are never freer than when the psyche is in meditation. Any limits are only self-imposed and do not come from external agents. (Trust meditation teachers who empower you to explore!)
In exploring these metaphysical realms it is useful for practitioners to understand their own levels of psychic sensitivity and their own psychological tendencies. I often think that the differences between the many schools of meditation come from their founders’ different levels of psychic sensitivity. For example, if practitioners are not at all psychic, then because they do not have the same experiences, they may naturally be sceptical of psychic phenomena. At the same time, those who are naturally psychic often need to discipline themselves, so as not to get lost or distracted by their perceptions. Equally meditators who possess busy minds need to calm their endless interpretations.
In my classes I often ask for a show of hands to find out where people are located on a spectrum of psychic sensitivity. We then unpack together how this influences their meditative experiences.
In a recent training for meditation teachers, there were some colleagues who were very psychic and always perceiving beings from other dimensions. Other colleagues were more oriented towards ‘melting’ into a sense of unity with all that is. The conversation between the two groups was very helpful in highlighting how these differences influence our experience of meditation. That said, there was never disagreement about the core requirement of calm equanimity, or that spiritual growth is always about compassion, connection and consciousness.
The Indian sage Patanjali (500-400 BC) described the subtle phenomena of meditation as coming from an ‘over-shadowing cloud of spiritual knowledge’ or a ‘raincloud of knowable things.’
When meditators start to describe their metaphysical experiences, it can be problematic for sceptics, triggering warnings of naivete, delusion and possible mental illness. This is understandable. There are indeed delusions.
My response is to be reassuring to that caution.
Meditation is not an empty void but an expansive ocean. Therefore practitioners are continuously developing the skills of perception, discernment and interpretation.
Cosmic curiosity — exploring metaphysical dimensions — is healthy, positive and developmental.
(For a relevant online workshop on this theme click here)
As someone who is not psychic, but who has always sensed and searched for something beyond, or something deeper, I really appreciate your description of the spectrum of experiences in meditation. This perspective gives me some context for my experiences of connectedness and wonder when I sit in a cathedral, or in a forest. It encourages me explore the spiritual side of meditation, and of life, rather than feel I need to be psychic to do that (or wondering what these psychic people are talking about :-).
For some years now I have been meditating with a church group who follow the teachings of John Main, who was a Benedictine monk. His message is very simple. ‘Say the mantra, say the mantra. All else is a distraction from meditation.’
I have had such arguments with dear John in my mind! What about the messages that just drop in? What about the inspirations that emerge in that calm space? If I find myself in deep peace but the mantra has stopped, am I still meditating?
This article really clarifies and justifies my experience and the John Main approach. Thank you
I sent something like this a few minutes ago. I’m 85 and have always been disappointed with meditation because whenever I tried it I never got beyond my normal state of mind. I have been a long-term spiritual seeker with my parents ‘C and E’ faint Christians and my third wife from a Catholic family. I recently came to believe that all people have a common spiritual instinct towards a single unitary source. I have always admired William Bloom – not quite sure why (?). But can you help me into a more positive relationship with meditation which it seems can to lead to more spiritual experiences. I’m aware I live more from my head than my heart (Bsc Econ – L.S.E.) ! ! I now live in Bridport, Dorset, and pursued (1993-5) two six month courses in Sufism through the Beshara Trust in Scotland. There I practised each day three meditation sessions !
William: What an interesting comment. Thank you. I wonder if your approach to meditation is too structured. Perhaps just sit quietly in the garden or your lounge, feel comfortable, close your eyes, enjoy being at ease. Allow your psyche to think or imagine anything or nothing. Just be at ease and enjoy. —– Meditation can be very simple. —- I wonder if that is helpful.
Thank you so much for articulating so clearly that which I have been trying to get across to some meditating colleagues for quite a while now. It seems that because of the secularization and reductionist tendencies so many meditation teachers and students have, it gets used in the same way as a glass or two of wine get used, simply to calm and buzz out. I am so pleased to hear someone else enthuse about the wonderful travels that await those of us who approach this with a glad expectancy but no expectations.
Don’t know if this is the right forum to ask this but here goes: If our thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc., drive our daily living experiences, what happens to actors on the planet who immerse themselves in often deeply traumatic or emotional roles. In believing this transformation for their art, are they sabotaging their current life condition?
William: 🙂 You’re right – this isn’t the right forum. But a quick answer might be that those actors who chose tragedic roles are learning about and teaching compassion. Great art is a mixture of beauty and tragedy. That surely is the depth, for example, of Shakespeare.
Thank you for your perceptive observations William. Especially about the various stages of psychic or sensitive abilities. We are all individuals as well as part of the whole.
So insightful! My first 1977 text for teaching meditation was Patricia Carrington’s Freedom in Meditation which taught “clinically standardized meditation.” Certainly less messy than metaphysics. Probably in the positivist or behavioral direction. No angels or demons allowed – “Here there be dragons!”
Great impact on my current learning journey “how to lead/work with/by resonance”. Thank you William. Will be in your meditation webinars end of May.
Here hear! I could not agree with you more. Thank you for articulating and important observation that can tremendously enhance and support our growing integration as human beings. My background is out of Shingon (Vajrayana) Buddhism in Japan with a licence to teach mindfulness from MMTCP (’21). I talk to my students about connecting with my ‘higher self’ but I tend not to emphasise these encounters as I do not feel equipped to support a deeper inquiry in that direction. But reading your post is encouraging me to participate with greater depth. Thank you for this!